Author's Note: This story is dedicated to my friends Lu Mezenga, who encouraged me to write it and Stefanie, who was the inspiration for my OC. I own anything, all rights go to J.K. Rolling. Read it, enjoy it and review it! :)
Chapter 13: Is it Love?
In the next day, Draco went to the hospital as usual. However, it was a bit early and he was waiting on the hospital's entrance. Then, he saw Dr. Collins arriving. Draco walked up to him and the man gave him a strange look.
"Dr. Collins, may I talk to you for a minute?" Draco asked.
"I don't have much time, Mr. Malfoy," the man replied coldly.
"I promise it won't take more than five minutes," Draco continued.
"Ok, what do you want?" Dr. Collins crossed his arms.
"Do you feel something for Hermione?" Draco went straight to the point.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Malfoy, but my feelings for Dr. Granger are, honestly, none of your business," Dr. Collins said walking away.
"Look, Dr. Collins, I know this is a personal question and I understand that you don't want to tell me, but I care about Hermione a lot and I don't want her to go through situations like yesterday when we met. She was a bit embarrassed and if you want something with her you should just go for it and not play her, ok? She deserves only the best."
"Mr. Malfoy, my business with Dr. Granger has been strictly professional until now. I know she deserves the best and she knows how I feel about her, that's why I'm not pushing her to make any decisions. I'm not playing her and I definitely don't need advice from you either. I don't want you to bother me with this matter anymore. Did I make myself clear?"
"Very clear," Draco answered angrily. "But just for you to know, you have competition."
"I'm not afraid of you Mr. Malfoy," Dr. Collins turned away.
"Neither am I of you," Draco replied even angrier.
Dr. Collins left Draco at the hospital's entrance alone, but it didn't take too long for Stefanie to show up and tell Draco he could already see his son.
"How is Scorpius?" he asked her on the way.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Malfoy, but nothing has changed. He's still in a coma and there are no signs of improvements until now."
"Do you think there is still hope for him?"
"There is always hope. You can't let go of it," Stefanie smiled.
"I know and I would have lost it long ago if it wasn't for Hermione," he looked down.
"You like her, don't you?"
"Yes, very much. I never thought I would ever say that," he smiled weakly.
"Life never stops surprising us."
They got to Scorpius ICU's room. He just lay there and the only sign of life coming from his body was the slight movement his chest made when he breathed. Stefanie left Draco alone for him to have some privacy. He stood near Scorpius bed and he started to cry. Draco sat on a chair besides the bed and took Scorpius's hand.
"I'm so sorry, son," he said between sobs and that was the only thing he said.
Draco spent a couple of hours by Scorpius's side, just remembering stuff they did together. When time passed, Draco's tears had dried and he caught himself smiling while remembering the first time Scorpius said daddy. It was a bit cheesy, but he couldn't help it. Finally he left the room and while he headed to the hospital's exit, Hermione appeared.
"Hey, how are you doing?" she asked.
"I've been better, Granger. What are you doing here?" he asked.
"I work here," she replied.
"It's Saturday and you told me yesterday you had the day off today," they started to walk together to the hospital's exit.
"True, but I forgot some papers and Stefanie told me you were here, so I decided to wait for you and to see if you want to do something today."
"You are here to see if I want to do something?" he crossed his arms.
"Well, yes… But if you have other plans, there is no problem. I've got stuff to do too."
"No, I don't have anything to do today. What were you planning on doing?" he asked.
"I don't know. I thought about staying inside today. Do you know what DVD is?"
"No, but I'll try to like it," he smiled.
They got to the hospital's exit and they found a very unusual visitor.
"So it's true then," Ron said approaching them.
"Ron? What are you doing here?" Hermione asked.
"I'm here just to confirm the story and it seems that I wasn't wrong. I can't believe you turned your back on us, Hermione. Of all people you could date, did you really have to choose him? I mean, I know what you are trying to do, but I can't understand why it had to be the ferret."
"What are you talking about, Ron? Have you gone mad? I'm not trying to do anything, unless moving on with my life counts as an answer," Hermione said confused.
"Don't be ridiculous. You know exactly what I am talking about. You're going out with the ferret just to make me jealous, because I'm getting married and you're feeling left out. Honestly, Hermione, I never thought you would go that low to get me and just so you know it's not working."
"Oh, that sure it is," Draco said laughing. "Otherwise, you wouldn't be here almost yelling at Granger, Weasley."
"Stay out of this, ferret," Ron replied.
"Ronald!" Hermione tried her best not to yell. "First of all, Malfoy and I are just friends. We are NOT going out. His son is in a coma and he has been going through tough times and I'm staying by his side to help. Secondly, I'm over you! I don't care who you're getting married to and I just wish you to be happy because I still consider you my friend. Thirdly, how did you know Malfoy and I have been talking to each other? I barely saw you the past month."
"You shouldn't go to public places with your new friend, who used to be your enemy, because this way, you give Rita Skeeter a lot to talk about on the Daily Prophet. I thought you read the newspaper, Hermione."
"I read the newspaper, Ronald. I just don't waste my time reading stupid gossip that your girlfriend and Skeeter publish. Besides, you have nothing to do with who I go out with or not. It's my life, I'll live it the way I want it to and it doesn't go around you. So I think you should mind your own business," Hermione replied.
"But he is our enemy, Hermione! Can't you see he is playing you?" Ron yelled.
"Keep your voice down, Ronald. If he is playing me or not, I'll figure out myself. Now, if you excuse me, I have other things to do than stay here and argue with such an egocentric person," she replied and pulled Draco by his arm out of the hospital.
Ron stayed behind stupefied. Draco didn't say a thing and went along with Hermione. She apparated them both at her street and she took him to her apartment. It was the first time she took him there. He entered it and he was amazed by all the muggle things Hermione had, like the television and the telephone.
"Make yourself at home," she finally said dropping her purse on a chair.
"What are all those things?" he asked.
"These are muggle stuff and they do some really awesome things. Muggles are not as stupid you think they are, Malfoy," she sat on the couch.
"I don't think muggles are stupid," he replied.
"Really?" she asked sarcastically.
"Ok, maybe I do a bit, but as I already told you I've been opening my mind to muggles and their stuff," he sat next to her.
"Whatever you say. I'm going to introduce you to a television and to a DVD player. We are going to watch a movie," she said.
"And what exactly are those things?" he asked.
"Well, the television is that screen you see above the fireplace and the movie will be shown there. You will understand when it starts, ok?"
"Fine," he replied.
Hermione made some popcorn and they watched the movie. Draco, at first, was confused and curious with the television, but in the end of the movie he was fascinated by that muggle device. When the movie ended, Hermione went to the kitchen to prepare lunch, even though it was bit late for that. They ate and Draco did the dishes with a spell as he always did. Finally, they decided to watch another movie, but before they could start it, an owl landed on Hermione's window. It was weird, because the bird was strange for Hermione, but the letter it was delivering was for Draco and not for her. The owl left and Hermione gave Draco the letter.
"Do you know who could it be from?" she asked.
"I have a slight idea," he replied opening it.
Draco read the letter and Hermione saw his face turn into only one feeling: anger.
"Malfoy, what is it?" she asked.
"Read it yourself, Granger. I can't believe this is happening," he said.
Hermione took the letter from him and it read:
Dear Draco,
I know that our last meeting wasn't friendly at all and I know you're still very mad at me, but I promise I'll be brief. I know that our son is going through tough times and now that I finally met him, even under such bad circumstances, I finally could make up my mind.
So, I am writing to inform you that I'm leaving Spain in a month or so. I still have some things to sort out here, but by the end of next month I shall be in London with my son, because that's where I belong. You may not want me as your wife anymore, but I have the right to be with him.
Don't bother to write me back, because I'm not asking you for anything, I'm just telling you so it does not come as a surprise once I'm there.
I still have faith that you put your head in place and forget mudblood Granger. She is not one of us and she will never be.
Yours sincerely,
A. Greengrass
"What a bitch," Hermione finally said.
"What I am going to do, Granger? The last thing I wanted to worry about was Astoria and this crap about her wanting to come back. She has not the right to be with Scorpius and I don't want him hurt when she decides to leave again," he covered his face with his hands.
"Malfoy, don't get desperate so quickly. I'm sure you'll find a way to go through this and I'll be here if you need, ok?" she put her arm around his shoulder.
He turned to her and gave her a hug. They spent the rest of the afternoon talking about how they could deal with Astoria, but as always their main matter changed as the conversation developed. By the end of the night, they had already eaten dinner and had drunk coffee as usual.
"It's getting late. I should go," Draco said getting up from the couch.
"Ok, I had a lot of fun today, even though there were some unpleasant surprises," Hermione replied getting up too.
They walked up to the door and Draco turned to Hermione.
"I had a great time too, except that stupid letter from Astoria. I always have a good time with you, Granger."
"And we are still calling each other by our last names," she smiled.
Draco smiled and did something that surprised both of them. He kissed her and she kissed him back. However, she stopped him after she realized what was happening.
"Look, Malfoy, I don't think this is right. You are going through too many things right now and I don't want it to be just a moment of solitude," she said.
"Granger, this is not a desperate act…" he started.
"Please, Malfoy, don't make a big deal out of this, ok? Let's not rush things," she interrupted him.
"Ok, as you wish. Good night… Hermione," he replied.
"Good night, Draco," she said and he left.